Page 55 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

Her live commentary had been my highlight of Formation Day—the first official ceremony of the Peace Celebrations. It marked the day the first seven monarchs signed the Declaration of Independence and Peace 874 years ago to form the modern states and monarchies. Exactly 363 days after the end of The Great Rebellion of Zorro.

The service was being held in the Public House attached to the back of Westcombe Palace in Central Pavilion City. The long, gothic, stone building with a high vaulted ceiling and low hanging, black iron chandeliers was stunning, and seated over two-thousand people.

All the monarchs were sitting in high-backed chairs on a wooden stage, draped in a red carpet. It ran between the staggered pews at the front all the way down to the huge, arched entranceway, where crowds of people watched the ceremony on big screens outside.

Media crews lined the walls and I hoped with everything in me that my laugh had gone unnoticed by them, because it didn’t go unnoticed by the people in front of me.

Four heads turned back to look at me and I froze as a hot blush crept through my face.

Prince Arsh grinned at me with pure amusement that glimmered through Fay’s hazel eyes too, while Kai’s gaze made my heart pound like it always did. But it was the Dowager Queen’s narrow stare that made me sit straighter.

They were the same hazelly colour as her two sons’, but for some reason they felt inquisitively sharper. Wrinkles lined her eyes, mouth, and forehead, but she looked good for her seventy-something years. Even if she was a little intimidating in the same way a headmistress was with her thin lips pressed firm, her arched brows raised in question, and her chin tipped high.

I shifted on the bench awkwardly. “Apologies,” I whispered.

The older lady kept me under the scrutiny of her stare for a few uncomfortable seconds longer after the others turned away. I exhaled slowly and finally tried to focus on what Kai’s parents were saying.

“…a new world, a new beginning, a second chance,” Queen Leila said, turning the page of the papers laid on the podium before her, a beautiful crown sitting atop her coiffured raven black hair. “That is what Formation Day marks. And though we may have changed greatly since the days of our foremothers and forefathers as individuals, as communities, as nations, but most of all as a world, by no means can we ever forget what the declaration stood for. Together, we must remind ourselves of its importance. For when we come together, stand together, and remember together, our alliances grow ever stronger. And stronger alliances make for better cooperation, better communication, and a better Neves for everyone. So, I ask everyone to rise together please.”

All the kings and queens seated behind King Rami and Queen Leila slowly stood as the two stepped back from the podiums. Chairs scraped the wooden floor when over two thousand people rose with them. I placed my hand flat over my heart in the same way everyone else did.

“Mesha ki uri Cheiftan! Azaad jahan Neves! Zakoon el raha!”

There was a quick collective pause. “Long live our rulers! Long be free Neves! For ever have peace!”

* * *

After a luncheon with all two thousand plus attendants of the Formation Day ceremony, a private gathering was held for royalty, government and council officials, and their families in the Grand Hall of Westcombe Palace. So, the historic room, once used as a ballroom, was packed to say the least.

But amongst all the glitzy people, laughing and chatting, Kai and I managed to stick together. Eventually, we found ourselves tucked near the curving entrance staircase where Fay joined us.

Fay bumped my arm, his hazel eyes shimmering as he nodded his head to his left. “I think Gigi’s taken an interest in you, Esmeralda.”

“Gigi?” I echoed as I followed the direction of his nod.

“He means our grandmother,” Kai said just as I found Dowager Queen Gisselle’s stare on me.

“Oh.” I straightened instinctively and gulped, offering her a smile. Her eyes flickered all over me like I was being judged for a contest I hadn’t known I’d entered. She flicked her head away. I was pretty sure I didn’t win first place. Or second. Maybe not even tenth. “I hope that’s not a bad thing.”

Fay opened his mouth to answer, but it was Kai’s voice I heard. “It’s not,” he said firmly.

“Are you sure? I didn’t offend her earlier, did I?”

“You didn’t. I’m sure. She doesn’t think badly of you.”

“Kai’s right,” Fay added. “She doesn’t. She liked that you laughed at her joke.” He smirked at his older brother. “And I’m pretty sure she sent me over here to make sure Kai wasn’t boring you to death. He might be Gigi’s favourite but even she knows how dreary his personality is.”

I chuckled as my gaze went from a mischievous-looking Fay to Kai, awkwardly rubbing his left earlobe as he obviously fought not to frown. The two brothers couldn’t have been more different.

If Kai was dreary then Fay was a charmingly arrogant bad boy meets smouldering prince.

He was a year younger than Shehryar, and as well as being the second prince of Touma, he was also a well-known artist which only added to his charm. He had his father’s hazel eyes, his mother’s slim, elegant features on a square-jawed face, and raven black hair that fell to his chin, though he’d tied it back for the event. He wasn’t as tall as Kai and Adam, but he was definitely the prettier brother.

“He’s not boring me,” I said. “If anything, he’s probably getting tired of listening to me babble.”

Kai’s eyes lit up and his dimple made a long-second appearance. “I’m not. You know I couldn’t.”

“Well,” Fay said, dragging the word. “Kai is known for having a social battery that lasts about twenty minutes maximum, so don’t be offended if he makes a run for the nearest exit to recharge.”

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